Advance Praise for Merchants Of Doubt

“There can be no science without doubt: brute dogma leaves no room for inquiry. But over the last half century, a tiny minority of scientists have wielded doubt as a political weapon to halt what they did not want said: that tobacco kills or that the climate is warming because of what we humans are doing. ‘Doubt is our product’ read a tobacco memo--and indeed, millions of dollars have gone into creating the impression of scientific controversy where there has not been one. This book about the politics of doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway explores the long, connected, and intentional obfuscation of science by manufactured controversy. It is clear, scientifically responsible, and historically compelling—it is an essential and passionate book about our times.”—Peter Galison, Joseph Pellegrino University Professor, Harvard University, author of Einstein’s Clocks, Poincaré’s Maps

“With the carefulness of historians and the skills of master storytellers, Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway lay out the sordid history of tobacco industry protectionists, who framed the debate as scientifically ‘unproven,’ gaining decades of market share for those merchants of death—who knew all along the risks of their products. Merchants of Doubt shows that some of the very same individuals were part of the plans to frame the climate change debate as unproven, using the same tried and true tactics of misrepresentation of facts, non-representative scientists, and industry-friendly legislators. Again, tried and true public re-framing of reality worked. But now all this chicanery is exposed for the deception it has been in Oreskes and Conway’s powerful and timely work.”—Stephen H Schneider, Professor, Stanford University, author of Science as a Contact Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Climate

Reviews for Merchants of Doubt:

“Powerful.” —The Economist Read full review.

Enjoy this wonderful interview with Naomi Oreskes in American Prospect.

“With exhaustive detail Oreskes and Conway relate the history of how industries and special interests in the United States have confused the populace and government in order to protect profits and ideology at the expense of American’s health and the quality of the environment.” — San Francisco Book Review

“The tale told by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway in their book, “Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming,” should be read by all scientists because we need to be reminded that we too are susceptible to the comforts of pseudoscience… Oreskes and Conway have unearthed a treasure trove of primary documents covering decades of this sort of activity that leaves one enormously impressed at the scope of their efforts…Oreskes and Conway’s book is no mere history of science, but rather a warning to us all that even scientists with stellar intellectual credentials are not immune from dabbling in pseudoscience that fits their prejudices. For those of us searching for answers, caveat emptor: The merchants of doubt are still peddling their wares.” – Chemical and Engineering News

“If you've ever wondered why you can't have a discussion with your right-wing uncle about climate change, this is the book for you. Oreskes and Conway impressively detail how a small group of free-market fundamentalists - literally the same handful of individuals - have for decades hijacked the national conversation on ecological and public health issues ranging from secondhand smoke to acid rain to DDT to the ozone layer to global warming…This is the eye-opening story of how the bad guys win.” —Durham Independent Weekly

“Looking for that perfect holiday gift? I recommend a fairly new book, "Merchants of Doubt," by the historians of science Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. Its pages expose and dissect members of a remarkably successful covert profession: professional deniers… Please join me in giving the gift of anti-denial.” —Hartford Courant

NASA recommends Merchants of Doubt in “Ask an Astrobiologist” column.

Here's a mention in a piece on ClimateProgress about California’s Prop 23.

Read this op ed on Prop 23 in the Laguna Beach Independent

Here's a feature in the Hays Daily News

“Superb.” —Charles Alexander, Huffington Post. Read post.

"Speakers give history of climate science, project future impacts to Yellowstone."—Rebecca Huntington, Jackson Hole News and Guide, Wyo. Read review.

“Well written, timely and provocative.” —Skeptical Inquirer

“A 'must' for any science collection.” — California Bookwatch

“If you really want to know why we have failed to act on climate change, read Merchants of Doubt.” — BioScience

“A new book that chronicles various attempts by American industry to manipulate public opinion on science.”—The New Yorker

Naomi recently appeared on Background Briefing with Ian Masters on LA’s KPFK (Pacifica)

Naomi appeared on 8/12 on “Midmorning” on Minnesota Public Radio (NPR)

BLOG COVERAGE:

Here’s an excerpt on AlterNet

From Sustainablebusiness

“[Merchants of Doubt] investigates a sort of reverse conspiracy theory: ecoterrorists and socialists are not the ones foisting dubious science upon us; rather it is deniers who are running their own well-funded and organized long-term hoax. Several previous works have ably illuminated similar themes, but this one

“Eye-opening…Merchants of Doubt is alarming, yet important.”—American Biology Teacher

Good review in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, on the opinion page. Also, James Lenfestey gives his opinion; The truth: Still there, still inconvenient

“Oreskes and Conway — through a combination of thorough scholarly research and adept story telling — unravel deep common links to past environmental and public health controversies among those now most often identified as climate “skeptics,” “contrarians,” “deniers,” “doubters” … and more. What makes their new book from Bloomsbury Press particularly worthwhile at a time of no shortage of new and intriguing climate change books? It’s their combination of thorough research with writing reminiscent of the best investigative journalism (remember that?)… essential reading for anyone seriously wanting to understand the tawdry background of climate science politicization as it was targeted, in particular, at some of the individual scientists and scientific undertakings most respected by the established science academy.”—Yale Forum on Climate Change

“The eye-opener of the year.”—Head Butler

Listen to the author interview on The Bob Edwards Show.

“No mere summary or review could hope to do more than scratch the surface of the information contained in this book…Merchants of Doubt [is] so compelling that it cannot be dismissed with a mere “talk to the hand.” The facts cannot be denied any longer – no free markets can address clearly market failures like acid rain and global warming, and ignoring reality only works for so long before reality finally does something that simply cannot be ignored.” — Scholars and Rogues

"Merchants of Doubt" Traces Roots of Denial. A review and bits from Erik’s talk at ClimateWatch on the KQED blog. Full blog.

How a handful of scientists obscured the truth on issues from tobacco to global warming. Written by Jason Zasky, for Failure Magazine Read full article.

“Ever wonder how the terms liberty and freedom got all tangled up in fake science, how industry friendly think-tanks got their start, or what motivates scientists to sell out beyond the obvious? Merchants of Doubt expertly follows the historical twists and turns to answer all those questions and more in exquisite detail translated into entertaining narratives easily digested by readers from all backgrounds…This book should be a staple for any scientist and progressive, especially those whose work intersects public policy. Merchants of Doubt will not only leave you better equipped to combat the propaganda now packaged and fed to an unsuspecting public as legitimate science on a daily basis, it is a meticulously researched and wonderfully written.”—Austin Science Policy Examiner

“Merchants of Doubt might be one of the most important books of the year. Exhaustively researched and documented, it explains how over the past several decades mercenary scientists have partnered with tobacco companies and chemical corporations to help them convince the public that their products are safe – even when solid science proves otherwise…Merchants of Doubt is a hefty read, well-researched and comprehensive…I hope it sells, because what it has to say needs to be heard.”—Will Buchanan, Christian Science Monitor Read full review.

Read article written by the authors for CNN.com

“An important book…The next time a friend or Fox News commentator or political candidate assaults you with the claim that "climate change isn't happening" or "isn't caused by human activities," you will recognize the source of their colossal misunderstanding. The good news is, honest science wins in the end. The bad news: The earth is heating up while this artificially heated debate rages, though "Merchants of Doubt," if widely read, should help douse the media flames.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Excellent.”—America Magazine

“After enduring decades of inexplicably persistent news reports casting doubt on the fact that cigarettes cause lung cancer, pollution harms the planet, and nuclear weapons are extremely dangerous, one might be forgiven for wondering if the same mob of misguided mercenaries might be behind them all. As it turns out—according to the evidence assembled in Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming—they are.”—Chronicle of Higher Education Read review.

“A devastating portrayal of organized scientific disinformation campaigns that makes clear just how gullible the press, scientific community and the public have been (and to a large extent, continue to be).” ”—Capital Weather Gang blog on WashingtonPost.com Read full review.

“Well-researched and lucidly written.”—Roger Lott, Washington Times. Read full review.

An excellent Op Ed by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway is in today's Los Angeles Times

The summer reading roundup from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is on the wire, and was picked up by the Charleston Gazette

“All in all, Oreskes and Conway paint an unflattering picture of why some scientists continue to stand against the overwhelming scientific consensus on issues at the center of public discussion.”— USA Today. Review picked up and is lead on abcnews/money.

Included on Economicprincipals.com

“Ever wonder how the terms liberty and freedom got all tangled up in fake science, how industry friendly think-tanks got their start, or what motivates scientists to sell out beyond the obvious? Merchants of Doubt expertly follows the historical twists and turns to answer all those questions and more in exquisite detail translated into entertaining narratives easily digested by readers from all backgrounds… This book should be a staple for any scientist and progressive, especially those whose work intersects public policy. Merchants of Doubt will not only leave you better equipped to combat the propaganda now packaged and fed to an unsuspecting public as legitimate science on a daily basis, it is a meticulously researched and wonderfully written.” —Daily Kos

“The disturbing tale of how some scientists sell their souls to advance political and economic agendas.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“In their fascinating and important study, Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway offer convincing evidence for a surprising and disturbing thesis. Opposition to scientifically well-supported claims about the dangers of cigarette smoking, the difficulties of the Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars"), the effects of acid rain, the existence of the ozone hole, the problems caused by secondhand smoke, and—ultimately—the existence of anthropogenic climate change was used in "the service of political goals and commercial interests" to obstruct the transmission to the American public of important information…Because it is so thorough in disclosing how major policy decisions have been delayed or distorted, Merchants of Doubt deserves a wide readership. It is tempting to require that all those engaged in the business of conveying scientific information to the general public should read it.”—Science

“Brilliantly reported and written with brutal clarity… The real shocker of this book is that it takes us, in just 274 brisk pages, through seven scientific issues that called for decisive government regulation and didn't get it, sometimes for decades, because a few scientists sprinkled doubt-dust in the offices of regulators, politicians and journalists…Oreskes and Conway do a great public service.”—Huffington Post

Good news: Naomi and Erik will be interviewed on several local NPR shows: in NYC Naomi will be live on "The Leonard Lopate Show" on 5/26, just before her NY Academy of Science event; in LA both Naomi and Erik will be live on "The Patt Morrison Show" on 6/1, the day of the Santa Monica Library event; and Naomi will be live on "Conversations with Joy Cardin," the drive-time morning show on Wisconsin Public Radio.

REQUIRED READING: "Naomi Oreskes and Erik N. Conway smoke out the Merchants of Doubt"—Vanity Fair

Nice plug in this voiceofsandiego.org article about scientists who deny global warming.

"Oreskes and Conway tell an important story...This book deserves serious attention for the lessons it provides about the misuse of science for political and commercial ends."—Publishers Weekly, starred review.

“Sweeping and comprehensive… Oreskes and Conway do an excellent job of bringing to life a complex and important environmental battle… [a] darkly fascinating history… Merchants of Doubt is an important book. How important? If you read just one book on climate change this year, read Merchants of Doubt. And if you have time to read two, reread Merchants of Doubt.”—Grist

Merchants of Doubt and Naomi's recent talk were highlighted on Climate Progress.org

"Naomi Oreskes, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, recently presented her views on the roots of climate crisis denial in a lecture at the University of Rhode Island. “Oreskes said the skeptics similarly attacked the science around acid rain, the ozone hole, secondhand cigarette smoke, global warming and the pesticide DDT.” "In every case, they denied the severity of the problem and said the science was uncertain," Oreskes said. "It was always the same argument. They always used the tobacco strategy and said it would be wrong for the government to interfere with the marketplace. It was all about using this play from the tobacco playbook." We know the tactics, funders and mission of climate crisis deniers. It is our job to combat and debunk their skepticism at every turn. blog.algore.com

More early buzz: Merchants Of Doubt is mentioned in The Huffington Post and Fortune.com

“A well-documented, pulls-no-punches account of how science works and how political motives can hijack the process by which scientific information is disseminated to the public.” —Kirkus Reviews